Dene Carter, the brilliant mind behind iconic titles like the original Fable and Bullfrog’s cherished Dungeon Keeper, has just dropped his latest masterpiece, Moonring, on Steam. And guess what? It won’t cost you a dime!
Moonring, as Carter puts it, is a “retro-inspired open-world, turn-based, tile RPG in the style of the classic Ultima games.”
This game is crafted “from the ground up with modern design sensibilities.” Dive into the enigmatic realm of Caldera, a world filled with “Devotion and Dreamers, Gods and Gifts,” where you’ll step into the shoes of the Dreamless. Fun, right? We thought so too!
About Moonring
Moonring isn’t just another game; it’s a full-blown experience. Imagine an expansive world brimming with items waiting to be discovered, flexible character development with cool skills, and some intriguing, albeit slightly puzzling, systems to master. Remember those old-school keyword conversations that split opinions? Yep, Moonring’s got them. But, breathe easy, it also comes with modern comforts like auto-noted keywords and a nifty autosave feature every time you embark on a dungeon. So, if things go south, you’re right back at the beginning, turning each dungeon into its own little roguelike adventure.
And for those with a penchant for the high seas, there’s naval exploration and ship-to-ship combat. We’re totally on board with that (pun intended)!
But wait, there’s more! The game mechanics here are genuinely intriguing. While your character boasts health, there’s also a regenerating poise system that cushions you from health damage. This makes tactics like stealth and strategic retreats invaluable. The dynamic interplay of fire and light is another feather in its cap. And did we mention the elemental interactions? Get drenched, and you’re resistant to fire but susceptible to Rot effects. The magic system, influenced by the five moons and their phases, is another layer of complexity, with each deity’s powers shifting based on the moon’s phase.
Carter left a personal message on the Steam page:
“Hi folks. I’ve loved RPGs since the early 1980s, and grew up playing games like Lord British’s ‘Ultima’ series and early Roguelikes. This is my love-letter to a style of gaming that has largely fallen out of fashion: with its vivid, bright sprites overlaid on stark black backgrounds, true open-world gameplay, and lack of handholding. The days I spent playing these games were spent in joyful exploration and discovery, venturing into the dark unknown, a co-author of the experience, filling in the gaps left by the primitive art with my imagination. For those of you who did the same, I hope Moonring recaptures some of the spirit of those days for you. For those who did not, I hope that the more modern conveniences you find in this game allow you to catch a glimpse of what we did 40 years ago. My heartfelt thanks to all who spared even a moment to play this. Please be kind to my mistakes. I will fix them. :-).”
You can download the game from Steam:
